The impacts of land-use and land-cover change on wetland ecosystem service values in peri-urban and urban area of Bahir Dar City, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract Background Even though wetlands are essential in enhancing water quality and providing recreation entertainment opportunities urban areas, their values overlooked by the decision-makers. Underestimation of economic value wetland ecosystem services contributes to continuing deterioration inevitable loss. Investigating changes service (ESV) can provide crucial information for decision-making. This study, therefore, analyzes temporal spatial land-use/land-cover (LULC) change patterns over 35 years (1984–2019) intending evaluate its impact on Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. Estimation analyses ESVs were conducted employing ArcGIS using LULC inputs year 1984, 1994, 2004, 2014, 2019 with corresponding global coefficients that developed earlier our own modified studied landscape. Results The results showed bodies city peripheries had decreased 75.71% (−1618 ha) within years, while built-up area increased 216.24% (+2599 ha). Cultivated land slightly from 1984 1994 then gradually declined since 1994. Changes resulted a decline total ESV. ESV USD 29.73 × 10 6 20.84 years. indicates loss nearly 8.9 2019. A sensitivity analysis suggested robustness estimation study area. All individual experienced negative change. However, greater reduction was observed such as regulation, waste treatment, habitats maintaining biodiversity. expansion City major factor contributed provided wetlands. Conclusions resulting has implication local climate, management, livelihoods poor community. Thus, interventions should be made restoration sustainable management peri-urban areas City.